Grave lining and covering device



G. A. STARK GRAVE LINING AND COVERING DEVICE Original Filed Nov. 15, 1926 Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

nairsa sraras GUSTAF A. STARK, OF ATVATER, IEINNESOTA.

GRAVE LINIITG AND COVERING DEVICE.

Application filed November 15, 1926, Serial No. 148,349 Renewed September 28 1928.

This invention relates to grave lining and covering devices;

It is the object of this invention to provide in connection with a casket lowering device, novel means for concealing the lowering device and for lining a grave as a casket is the present invention applied to a casket lowering device, certain of the parts being broken away; i V

Fig. 2' is a vertical section taken on the line 2- 2 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrow Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3+3 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrow, certain of the movable parts of the device being shown in full lines in one position and in dotted lines in another position; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one portion of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a casket lowering device of standard construction is illus trated, including corner posts 7, side shafts 8', end shafts 9, and webbing straps 10, extending between the two side shafts 8, the'ends of the webbing straps being releasably secured to the shafts 8 by staples 11, and wound upon the shafts. A foot control pedal: 12 is used for controlling the lowering ofthe device and a crank 13 for winding up the webbing straps 10 upon shafts 8 before or after using the device. Shafts'8 are preferably composed from tubing and have removable central sections 14 slidablysecurable in the main sections of the shafts by pin and socket joints, small keys being formed at each joint to permit thesections 14 and the main sections of the shafts 8 to rotate as a whole. I The lowering device is of substantially rectangular shape and is. adapted to be set up and situated over an open grave, whereupon a casket, such as the casket 15, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, maybe placed on the webbing straps 10 and thefoot control pedal 12 pressed downwardly to perthe line 4--4 of Fig.1, as indicated by the arrow; and

mit the weight of the casket 150021116 1116 same 1' downwardly.v into the grave, the webbing straps 1O assuming a substantially U-shape as the casket is lowered into the grave and as the shafts 8 rotate towards each other.

ing U. S. application for patent, filed November 15, 1926, Ser. No. 148,348, and entitled G rrave covering and liningdevice. The said frame is made up of a plurality of pipe sections, securable together, certain portions of the frame being slidable together, as at 17, and connectable by pin and socket joints, said frame having removable central sections 18 in the sides thereof for reduction of the length of the frame. A pair of wings are secured one to each of the shafts 8 adjacent to the'ends thereof, and are adapted to we tend inwardly from the shafts to lie in idle position in substantially a horizontal plane. Each wing comprises end sections 19 loosely securable at their inner ends to shafts 8 by straps 2O screwed or otherwise secured to end members 19, theends of the straps 20 being secured together by buckles 21. Outer side members 22 arehinged to end section s 19 by hinges 23, the said outer side sections 22 be ing adapted to extend at right angles to sections 19 when outwardly swung, the central ends of sections'22 being preferably beveled. Intermediate sections 24 preferably having their ends beveled are secured to side sections 22 by clips 25. End sections 19 are pro- Vided adjacent their outer ends with apertures adapted to receive therein the dowelled ends of outer side sections 26,also being beveled at their central ends and being adapted,

to be secured to central sections 24 by clips 25. Sections 26 are incut at 27 to form notches within which straps-1O are adapted to lit, the.

said notches being ofslightly greater depth than the breadth of webbing straps 10 and of considerably greater length than the width of straps 10. Pivotally mounted over; notches 27'are-keepers 28, the said keepers being pivoted at one end to sections 26 adjacent one end of the notches 27, and having-hook portions formed at their otherends adapted toengage flexible material having hooks 30 secured in l rings on the outer edges thereof are secured I to the sides of rrame 16 by the hooks, the

shrouds extending inwardly from the sides of the frame over shafts 8, resting upon the respective wings and depending downwardly i'rom the inner sides 01 the wings into the grave. slightly inwardly from the sections 26, straps 10 extending from shafts 8 through the slits 31jand over the portions or the shrouds extendiifig over the outer portions or the wings. End shrouds 32 also co.mposed rro1n sheets or flexible material are secured by hooks 30, secured in rings on the outeredges orth'e shrouds, to the ends or .frame 16 and toportions of the sides of the frame, the shrouds 32 estendingoveithe corner posts 7 and the end shai'ts 9 and depending downwardly therefrom intothe grave to line the ends of the grav Clips '33, having upper central open portions, are placed about the central portions or the webbing straps 10 to be car- Tied thereby, the clips having short chains or cablesfi l secured to'th'eir lower sides and depending downwardlytherefrom, the lower ends of thechains 34 having secured thereto the plates 350i preferably circular. shape, and or diameter slightly greater than the s acing betweenthe inner sides of the two wings when the wings are held in horizontal position.

Preferably the various parts or the idevic e willb'e taken all apart for transportation or storage when not in use. To assemblethe device the 'various parts "of frame 16 are secured together,wherenpon the frame 1'6 is placed on the v ground imn'iediately surrounding a casket lowering device placed over an open grave, The wings are then assembled, by swinging the sections 22 outwardly from sections 19 on hinges23, securing the dowelled ends of sections 26 in the apertures in sections '19 and sliding sections "24. in place between the various sections 22 and 26. Straps 20 are now loosely buckled abont shafts 8 so ast'o 'p'e'rniit rotationof the shafts in respect to the wings. The wings, of course, will be placedbel'ow webbing straps 10 after they are secured to the shafts 8. Keepers 2' 8 are now unl'at'ched from pins 28", whereupon straps 10 maybe inserted in the notches 27 and keepers 28 will then be swung to engage. the hoo portions thereof with the pins 28,

keepers ssextendin' over and across straps Straps lOwill have already been properly extended through the slits 31 in shrouds 29 Shrouds 29 may now be hooked on to the 7 sides 1? frame 16, the inner ends or the shrouds extending downwardly between the inner sides of the two wings into the grave. Shrouds32 are thensecured by hooks 30 to the ends and sides or frame 16 and are ex tended downwardly over the corner posts 7' and shai'ts 9 into thegrave. Clips 33 are. now

secured to 'theioentral portions of the WGlJblI IQ, straps, wherenpon plates '35 may be engaged ,stantiany horizontal position.

Slits 31 are formed in the shrouds 29,

underneath the inner sides of the opposing wings to assist in holding the wings insub- The device is now ready for a burial ceremony, the shrouds completely covering the grave and the casket lowering device with the exception of the central portions of webbing straps 10. I

A casket 15 may now be deposited upon the webbing straps 10, whereupon the foot control pedal 12 of the lowering device may be pressed, permitting the wei ht ,or the casket to carry the same downwardly into the grave. its the casket moves downwardly into the grave, webbing straps 10 will assume substantially a U-sh'ape. Inasmuchas the keepers 28 extend over straps 10 adjacent the shafts 8, the portions of straps 8 originally; extending between keepers 28 and secti'on's'26 will be quickly moved from horizontal to vertical position as the casket is first lowered, thereby swinging the wings downwardly into the grave and increasing the relative spacing between the two wings and allowing the plates 35 to be released from the'inner sides of: the wings. The wings will continue to be swung downwardly into'the 'rave until they approach the sides thereohtie wings carrying with them the shrouds '29, thereby causing the shrouds to line. the sides of the grave as the casket islowerfed. As the straps 10 are payed out rroinshait's 8 as the casket i s further lowered, the straps will slide in the notches 27, the portions or the 'strapsin the notches being always vertically extended. Accordingly t-hewings and shrouds 29 will remain adjacent "the sides of the grave, the shrouds 29 lining the sides. Shrouds32 depending downwardly into the grave from the ends-or the lowering device will line the end walls of the grave Accordingly the grave will be completely lined as a casket is lowered therein, thereby presenting an attractive appearance and'co'verinn up the sight or theb'are earth forming the wa is of the grave.

Althou h the wings areillustrated, as being secured to shaits8 byineans of straps 20, any other desirable means may be used for loosely pivoting the members 19 'orthe wings to the shai ts. When it is desiredto use the device of the invention in connection with a casket lowering device or shorter length than that illustrated, sections '24 may be removed and the respective portions 22 and 26 of the respective wings joined together, thereby shortening the length of the wings. It will, or course, be understood that the various sections of the wings maybe joined together in nianners other than those illustrated. If desired, shrouds formed from flexible sheets formed to imitate natural grass may be used, thereby creatingfa pleasing effect to the eye. The device of the in; vent-ion can be used with various "types or 'casketlowering devices. v I

It will, or course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention, which, generally stated, consists in the manner shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: I g I 1. The combinationwith acasket lowering device, having side shafts rotatable toward each other and webbingstraps extending between said shafts, the ends of said straps being wound on said shafts, of means operated by said. straps to line the walls of a grave as a casket is lowered into a grave by said device.

2. The combination with a casket lowering device, having side shafts rotatable towards each other, and webbing straps extending between said shafts, the ends of said straps be,- ing wound on said shafts, of shrouds extending downwardly over said shafts into a grave, and means operated by said straps for causing said shrouds to line the walls of a grave as a casket is lowered therein by said device.

3. The combination with a casket lowering device, adapted to extend over an open grave, said device having rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extending between and wound on said shafts, of wings having portions thereof overlying said straps and shrouds fitting over said wings and depend ing downwardly therefrom into a grave,

whereby as a casket is lowered downwardly into the grave by said device, said wings will be swung downwardly by said straps thereby causing said shrouds to line the sides of the grave.

4. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device including rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extendin between said shafts and having their ends wound thereon, of wings having slots therein through which said straps extend, and shrouds supported upon said wings, whereby as a casket is lowered into a grave by said device, said straps will carry said wings downwardly into the grave to cause said shrouds to line the sides thereof.

5. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device including rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extending between said shafts and having their ends wound thereon, of wings having notches therein within which said straps are adapted to lie, keepers adapted to be secured over said straps to retain the same in said notches, and shrouds carried by said wings andadapted to be depended downwardly therefrom into a grave, whereby as a casket is lowered into a grave by said device, said straps will carry said wings downwardly into the grave to permit said shrouds to line the sides thereof.

6. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device including rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extending between said shafts and" having their ends wound thereon, of wings ez-ztending inwardly from said shafts and pivoted thereon for swinging movement downwardly into the grave, keep ers mounted on said wings placed over said straps, shroucs supported on said wings and having depending portions adapted to extend downwardly into the grave, whereby as a casket is loweredinto the grave by said device said straps will carry said wings downwardly into the grave to permit said shrouds to line the sides thereof.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, and end shrouds extending over the ends of said lowering device and depending downwardly into the grave to line the ends thereof.

8. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device including rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extending between said shafts and having their ends wound thereon, of a frame surrounoingsaid lowering device, wings pivotally mounted on said shafts, said wings having portions thereof overlying said webbing straps, side shrouds secured to the sides of said frame, extending over said side shafts, supported upon said wings and adapted to depend downwardly into an open grave, and end shrouds secured to the ends of said frame extending over the ends of said lowering device and adapted to depend downwardly into an open grave to line the ends thereof, said side shrouds being adapted to be carried'downwardly on said and adapted to be wings by said straps as a casket is lowered to retain the same in substantially horizontal position, said means being detachable from said wings as a casket is lowered by said 'device to permit said wings to Swing downwardly adjacent to the sides of a grave, and allow said shrouds to line the sides thereof.

10. The combination with a casket lowering device having rotatable side shafts and webbing strapsextending between said shafts, the ends of said straps being wound on said shafts, of wings respectively mounted at their outer sides on said shafts for swinging movement from an idle substantially horizontal position downwardly into a grave, said wings being adapted to extend towards each other said straps, said plates being adapted to be interposed between and beneath the lower.

sides of opposing wings to hold the wings in substantially horizontal position when the lowering device is raised, but to slip away from said Wings as a casket is lowered by said device.

11. The combination with a casket lowering device having side shafts rotatable toward 10 each other and webbing straps extending shrouds adapted tobe operated by said straps to line the walls of a grave as a casketislow- 15 ered therein by said lowering device.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GUSTAF A.v STARK. 

